Ethics Commission: 'Insufficient evidence' to investigate North East officials

NORTH EAST -- The Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission will not investigate claims of wrongdoing against two North East Township supervisors.

Supervisors Dennis Culver and Vernon Frye had been accused of approving sewer extensions in the township to benefit themselves or their families in complaints filed with the Ethics Commission by township residents Aaron Fisher and Gary Miles in 2012.

"After a preliminary inquiry of this allegation, we find no basis to commence a full investigation because there is insufficient evidence to support a finding of probable cause that the State Ethics Act has been violated," commission Acting Executive Director Robert Caruso said in Jan. 29 letters to Culver and Frye.

A lawsuit against township officials based on similar complaints by Fisher and Miles is still pending in Commonwealth Court.